How Seasonal Depression Symptoms Propelled To The Top Trend On Social Media
Seasonal Depression Symptoms
Similar to other forms of depression, people suffering from SAD feel depressed or have a lack of enthusiasm for everyday activities. They may lose interest in family and friends and may sleep more or have difficulty waking up. They also have a craving for carbohydrates, which gives the body instant energy.
In the fall and winter can impact brain pathways that help regulate mood. Some sufferers have mild symptoms while others suffer from symptoms that are so severe as to affect relationships and at work.
Treatment
There are a variety of treatment options available. Psychotherapy, light therapy and medication can assist sufferers with SAD. Simple changes can also help to relieve symptoms and improve mood.
SAD can be mild, moderate or severe. It can affect someone's concentration and energy level as well as appetite. Some people with SAD may feel irritable or angry more frequently. They may also experience difficulty taking decisions or concentrating. Some people with SAD are unable to sleep well and this can cause an inability to focus throughout the day. The change of seasons can cause symptoms of SAD. The shorter daylight hours in the winter and fall months can affect a person's biological rhythms. This can lower serotonin levels and boost melatonin. This can lead to insomnia or depression.
People suffering from SAD typically report feeling down or sad at a certain time of the year. These symptoms typically occur in the fall or winter, and they feel better in spring. In summer, they might experience episodes where they feel happy or high. SAD sufferers may suffer more depressive episodes. SAD is sometimes confused with other mood disorders. It's crucial to seek medical advice.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is an effective treatment for SAD. CBT is a kind of psychotherapy that teaches people to confront and change unhelpful thoughts. CBT for SAD is focused on changing negative thoughts about the season to more helpful ones. It also assists people in finding pleasurable activities to offset the lack of interest they usually experience in the winter or summer.
It's unclear how effective herbal remedies or supplements are for SAD. Many herbal remedies and dietary supplements aren't regulated in the similar way drugs are. They could cause serious problems when they interact with prescription medications. Check with your physician prior to taking any herbal or dietary supplement.
Medication
The symptoms of seasonal depression disorder are more severe than a few "winter blues." If you experience these changes in mood each year, at the same time you GP can help diagnose and treat your symptoms. Treatment options include light therapy, psychotherapy and medications.
Winter-pattern SAD is characterized by depressive episodes that take place throughout the year in the winter and fall. These episodes can be caused by fatigue and a greater appetite, a preference for starchy food and sleep disturbances, as well as weight increase. These symptoms can trigger feelings of despair, hopelessness and even suicidal ideas in the most severe instances.
In addition to antidepressants some people with SAD benefit by taking a dopamine inhibitor like bupropion. This medication helps balance your levels of serotonin and dopamine and reduces the tendency to feel lethargic and irritable. This is a relatively recent kind of antidepressant that has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat SAD.
Your GP will prescribe the most effective medication for you based on the specific symptoms and the severity of your illness. They might suggest starting antidepressants during the fall before the symptoms of seasonal depression typically start each year, and continue to take them until spring. Based on the specific symptoms you experience they might also suggest that you use a lightbox or lamp to simulate sunlight and encourage the release of serotonin.
It is important to remember that while many people with SAD feel an absence of vitamin D however, there is no evidence of this being the reason of their illness. However, making sure your diet is full of healthy foods and take time in the sun can aid in reducing.
SAD can be extremely challenging, and the symptoms can appear to last for a long time. It is essential to recognize that there are many treatments for this condition, and with the help of your GP you can conquer your symptoms and live a normal life. For more information on seasonal affective disorder and other mental health conditions, visit the Health Matters blog(link opens in a new window) at NewYork-Presbyterian.
Cognitive behavior therapy
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that appears in the winter and fall and improves in the spring and summer. It is caused by changes in sunlight exposure and biological rhythms that alter sleep, eating habits, mood and behavior. Antidepressants, light therapy, and cognitive behavioral therapy can help improve symptoms of seasonal depression.
Researchers aren't certain what causes SAD. However, they believe that less sunlight triggers a change in the chemical in the brain that leads to depression. SAD patients are more likely than others to suffer from other mental disorders, like major depression or bipolar disorder. They could also be at risk because of family history, such as someone in the family with schizophrenia or depression.
People suffering from winter-pattern SAD often have lower levels of the chemical in the brain called serotonin that regulates mood. The low levels of this chemical can cause sleep problems and focusing, as well as being sad. Melatonin levels may be lower in people with SAD summer-pattern. This can alter sleep patterns and cause depression-like symptoms.
SAD symptoms include sadness, low energy as well as difficulty concentrating and a decrease in interest in the activities you normally enjoy. You might be unable to connect with your friends and family during the cold, dark winter months or lose weight in order to cope with the negative emotions. You may also start to feel suicidal. This is a serious medical issue that requires immediate attention.
Talk therapy can help people with SAD overcome their depression by changing unhealthy thought patterns and behaviors. During sessions, your therapist might ask you questions and encourage you to be aware of how you respond to difficult situations. Then, you will discuss ways to approach these situations in a different manner.
Psychotherapy is most successful when it is tailored to a specific issue such as SAD. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is one of the most promising treatments for SAD. It was created by Aaron Beck, a psychiatrist at the University of Pennsylvania in the 1960s, CBT was an adaptation of Albert Ellis' rational emotive behavior therapy. It focuses on reversing the harmful patterns of "emotional reasoning" that can lead to depression.
Light therapy
With the changing of the seasons, many people feel sluggish and tired, and down in the dumps. For severe depression physical symptoms , these symptoms are more severe than a typical situation of "winter blues" and may lead to depression called seasonal affective disorder or SAD. If you're suffering from this condition, simple lifestyle changes can ease symptoms and help restore your normal mood.
Research has demonstrated that bright light therapy, also known as phototherapy, can help improve symptoms of SAD and other conditions affecting your mood. The daily use of light boxes or specialized full-spectrum light in the early morning hours can help reduce your symptoms. Light therapy helps increase serotonin production, natural chemical that increases your mood and makes you more alert. It can also prevent the decline in your circadian clock, which is the internal clock in your body that regulates sleep cycles.
The best results can be achieved by using a device that emits 10,000 Lux of bright white light. This is roughly the same brightness that you see outside on a sunny day in July. Your doctor will suggest you sit or stand in front of the device each day for a minimum of 30 minutes, starting in the early morning hours, all week.
If you are suffering from headaches or eye strain or headaches, you can adjust the intensity and distance between the light source and your. It is important to use a light box that blocks harmful ultraviolet rays which can harm your eyes and skin. You can buy the lightbox from your doctor, or you can locate one online. Make sure it is medically approved to treat SAD.
Tell your healthcare provider if bipolar disorder, or any other mental disorder you suffer from. Bright light therapy, also known as antidepressants, can cause manic episodes in some people. The risk can be minimized by using these treatments with the guidance of a medical professional.